The UAE Announces New Residence Visa Rules

Fantastic news for those who want to move to Dubai or another city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE cabinet has announced new residence visa rules that will change how skilled workers, investors, and digital nomads can enter to work in the country.

This new model aims to attract top talents from around the world and prove how open the UAE is to foreign workers. Even more so, the new rules will help increase competitiveness and flexibility of the labor market as well as send out a message of stability for UAE residents and their loved ones. 

Find out more as this Pacific Prime Dubai article explores the changes to the residence visa rules in the UAE.

A New Residence Permit System for the UAE

The UAE aspires to make it easier for skilled workers and investors to relocate to the emirates. According to the UAE Government, the new model introduces changes to the UAE’s visa rules such as the introduction of an Emirates ID that’s used instead of the stamping of residence visas in passports.

The UAE also has more plans and benefits in place. For those who are considering moving to the UAE, the benefits make their decision easy; male children can be sponsored up to 25 years old, disabled children are sponsored with a special permit, and unmarried daughters can be sponsored indefinitely.

Amendments to the Golden Visa Scheme

Several improvements have been made to the Golden Residence Visa scheme to simplify the eligibility criteria, increase the validity of every visa type to 10 years, and expand their categories. The UAE also allows visa holders to sponsor family members and laborers without limit.

As the grace period for Golden Visa expiry or cancellation is extended to six months for both holders and their families, the list of people eligible for the visa includes:

1. Scientists

The UAE is now granting the Golden Visa to scientists and researchers who have graduated from top universities around the world with a Master’s degree or PhD in engineering, technology, and life or natural sciences. The applicants must also receive an approval from the Emirates Scientists Council.

2. Skilled Professionals

If you’re a highly-skilled worker who receives at least AED 30,000 (approximately USD $8,170) monthly salary from a job that falls under the professional level one or two as defined by the Ministry of Human Resources Emiratisation, you’re set to apply for the Golden Visa.

Keep in mind to confirm that you have at least a bachelor’s degree and that your employment contract in the UAE is valid.

3. Exceptional Talents

For those who excel in art, technology, sports, medicine, law, and various other fields, you’re also eligible for the visa. Their consideration will be solely based on your talent and not other factors like salary or professional experience, but you’ll also need approval from a government entity.

4. Real Estate Investors

Real estate investors are eligible for the Golden visa if they purchase a property worth two million AED (~USD $544,530) from approved local real estate companies. They’ll also be granted a grace period of 6 months for visa expiry or cancellation without any fines imposed.

5. Entrepreneurs

Establishing small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with annual revenues of one million AED+ (~USD $272,250+) allows for the Visa application if you’re also a founder or co-founder of previous businesses sold for at least seven million AED (~USD $1.90M) or approved by the Ministry of Economy.

6. Students

Based on your academic excellence and graduation year, students from secondary schools or universities in the UAE and top 100 universities around the world are eligible to apply for the Golden Visa. If you’ve completed your study in the emirates, you’ll also be granted a six-month grace period.

Update to the Green Visa

The latest update on the UAE Green Visa offers 5-year residence for skilled professionals, freelancers, investors, and the self-employed without requiring a sponsor or employer.

According to the UAE cabinet, digital nomads must obtain a freelance/self-employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation as well as hold a bachelor’s degree or specialized diploma.

Their monthly income from self-employment shouldn’t be less than AED 15,000 (~USD $4,080) to ensure that they’re financially capable of residing in the country.

Get Health Insurance for You and Your Loved Ones with Pacific Prime Dubai

Those who wish to move over to the UAE or apply for the newest residence visa in the UAE should first consider the importance of securing health insurance for themselves and their family members.

At Pacific Prime Dubai, international or family health insurance plans come with value-added services such as claims assistance and support, as well as having experts provide you with timely advice. These services can make your experience as an expat living and working in the UAE easy!

Our experts can help you compare plans from leading local and global insurance providers without extra cost. We also offer business insurance for UAE investors and property and casualty insurance plans for those who’d like to start a new business in the emirates.

Contact us for more details and a FREE quote today!

• Author
• Recent Posts

Jantra Jacobs

Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime Dubai

Jantra Jacobs is a Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime with over 10 years of writing and editing experience. She writes and edits a diverse variety of online and offline copy, including sales and marketing materials ranging from articles and advertising copy to reports, guides, RFPs, and more.

Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.

Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.

Latest posts by Jantra Jacobs (see all)

• Families in Abu Dhabi: What Expat Parents Should Know - 1st December 2023
• How to Get Free Infant Vaccinations as an Expat in the UAE - 18th September 2023
• 2023 Guide to Mandatory Health Insurance in Dubai - 15th September 2023